Egypt’s national dialogue well underway

The Egyptian military consolidated control over the country on Sunday as the democratic transition moves to the next stage. Military leaders suspended the Constitution and called for new elections in six months.

By Richard Eisendorf

Today, a new generation of Egyptians decided the time for change was now.

Breaking with the past, the Egyptian people stopped the slow march of time and reset history’s clocks when the Egyptian Armed Forces issued Communique No. 1 declaring its support of the protesters, and then President Hosni Mubarak stepped down.

With this reset, there is a lot of trepidation about what is next. Some fear Islamic radicalism, instability and the abandonment of Egypt’s peace treaty with Israel. But a look at who is behind the Egyptian uprising may give one confidence in the future of the state.

While it truly became a mass protest, the force behind the demonstrations were middle class, educated youth, many of whom work in civil society organizations. For years, they have been challenging restrictions imposed on Egyptian society and courageously protesting, organizing and changing public opinion.

They organized thousands of citizens to monitor national elections, even when the government banned their own judges from verifying the results.

They held national dialogues with a cross-section of society — including old and young, religious and secular, ruling party and opposition — to address the reforms needed to build a more democratic society.

They joined together to present evidence of human rights abuses before the United Nations.

Perhaps most important of all, they used new media — blogging, Facebook, SMS, online radio — out of the reach of censors, to expose cases of torture and, eventually, to mobilize a nation.

For all the diversity among the protesters, they share a common cause: a commitment to a free society, a free Egypt. And they stand as Egyptians — not at the behest of any foreign powers.

The peaceful protest and the tens of thousands who have been advocating for a more open society exemplify the best of democratic practice.

Mubarak imposed a State of Emergency on the first day he took office that is still in force today. With this and by other means, he prevented any legitimate opposition to emerge — in 2005, imprisoning the only credible independent contender to stand against him for president, Ayman Nour. No independent political party or presidential candidate has been permitted to organize under Mubarak’s rule. And legislation further restricts new candidates and parties from emerging.

As a result, the regime’s suppression of political opposition has left the would-be participants in a new democracy weak and unorganized.

The demands of the demonstrators are clearly intended to level the playing field.

The military commanders, who now are running the affairs of state, have declared their intention to meet the demands of the protesters. Today, they dissolved Parliament and suspended the Constitution. Assuaging concerns about the peace treaty with Israel, they declared their intention to uphold regional and international obligations. Additionally, they committed to hold democratic elections within six months.

The Egyptian Army has so far demonstrated its collaboration with the protesters and their intent to safeguard a transition to democracy. The organizers of the demonstrations need to be vigilant to ensure that while the military maintains a safe and secure country, it also realizes the changes it just has declared.

Within this new framework, we will see very capable leaders emerge from this new generation of Egyptians and it will be clear that the Egyptian people are ready to embrace the democratic process, peacefully and responsibly.

Richard Eisendorf is a specialist in media, democracy and conflict resolution in the Middle East.